Obituary: James D. Cooper

James D. Cooper

James D. Cooper, an internationally recognized structural engineer and leader
in the field of bridge engineering, passed away on November 23, 2005 at the
age of 63 following a year-long battle with cancer. Jim was the former Director
of the Office of Bridge Technology, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
In this capacity, he helped define and set the focus for the initial six-year
$12 million seismic research program conducted by MCEER (formerly NCEER)
on the vulnerability of federal-aid highways, bridges and tunnels to earthquakes
for FHWA, and was a member of the project’s Highway Seismic Research
Council (HSRC). Jim’s leadership and vision has been demonstrated in
the wide array of valuable products that have been produced by MCEER for
the highway engineering community. He will be missed.